Page 110 of Blood Money

Wanting no part of her past, Gray had assisted her in legally changing hers and Nicky’s last name to Romano. But the most important things that had changed since that fateful night were that her son was well again and Gray was in her life. And her occupation was undergoing a major upheaval.

She’d quit the NYPD before they made their administrative decision final. Gray wanted to fight for her, but this was a golden opportunity to jumpstart her interior design career. With Daisy’s help, she already had several customers and more on the way. Gray wanted to give her money to tide her over until business took off. Initially, she’d refused, but in the spirit of turning over a new leaf, she finally agreed to a small loan, just enough to pay the bills while she built her clientele. The way things were going, she’d be able to pay off his loan in no time.

Speaking of clientele, she still needed to drop off that crystal vase on the way to the stadium. Mrs. Lattimer would have a fit if it wasn’t front and center in her posh uptown apartment before the big shindig she was throwing to celebrate her interior makeover.

Alex headed into the living room and lifted the delicate vase from its wooden crate, inspecting it for cracks and other blemishes. Seeing none, she carefully repacked the vase and set the crate on the floor. A pair of strong arms slid around her waist.

“I’m hating our agreement right about now.” Gray dropped a kiss on her neck.

“Me, too.” Alex moaned as he pressed his lips to that super-sensitive spot just below her ear. He obliged by warming her neck even more with his hot kisses. “But we agreed no sleeping together while Nicky is under the same roof.”

“Who said anything about sleeping?” Gray parted her robe and began massaging her breasts. “You’re killing me. My bed is cold and lonely without you.”

Then ask me the big question. You love me, I love you, what’s the problem?

Even Nicky loved Gray like the father he’d never had. When it came to baseball, the two of them were thick as thieves. And today, Gray was taking Nicky to his first major league baseball game, a playoff game, no less. Along with nearly all of Gray’s family, and Dom.

For some reason, Gray invited Daisy, which Alex thought was a really bad idea. Daisy still hadn’t forgiven Dom and probably never would. If the two of them got too close, there could be a brawl right there in the stands on national television.

“Let me leave you with this thought.” Alex turned in his arms and linked her hands behind his neck. She stood on her toes and proceeded to kiss him thoroughly. Gray responded like he always did, with unbridled frenzy that made her want to tear his clothes off and take him right there on the living room floor. How the man loved to kiss!

Unexpectedly, he pulled her arms from his neck. “I have to go. I promised Nicky I’d meet him at my parents’ to play catch before heading to the stadium. You remember where I told you to meet us, at Will Call?”

“I remember. You told me twice, and you wrote down how to get there.” Gray hesitated and scratched his head. Odd, but for a man always in control and in command, he suddenly seemed uncharacteristically nervous and on edge. “As soon as I drop off that crystal vase, I’ll be there.”

“Don’t be late.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose.

“I won’t. Now go.” She pushed him toward the door.

“I love you.” He grinned and her heart melted. She loved this man more than anything, nervous or not.

“I love you, too.”

Alex smiled, utterly content with her life. Well, almost. There was only one thing that would make it better.

…

Gray couldn’t stop fidgeting in his seat. He felt like an insecure teenager. Even his palms were sweaty. Holy shit! He really was nervous.

He glanced down at Nicky, his co-conspirator, and the only one present who knew what Gray planned.

Nicky tugged at his sleeve. “Now?”

Gray shook his head. “Not yet.” Only because he was scared shitless. Not at going through with his plan, but at what Alex would say.

Or not say.

Sitting at his other side, she looked as beautiful as always, wearing a New York Yankees shirt and cap, just like the rest of his family cheering on the home team. His mother and father and, unexpectedly, his little brother, Jess, sat in the seats in front of him. Jess had flown in late last night from abroad where he’d been working undercover for HSI for the last eight months.

Cassie and Mike reluctantly declined to attend, as Cassie was about to give birth any second. Mike’s food critic sister, Moira, however, took one of their tickets and was slowly but surely driving Jess insane. The two of them argued over everything.

Dom was also there, along with a bristling Daisy. Given the animosity between her and Dom, Gray had second thoughts about inviting Alex’s best friend. But this could be a big day, one he didn’t want to leave Daisy out of.

All around them the crowd cheered as the top of the seventh inning ended with the Yankees ahead over Boston by two runs. Alex jumped out of her seat hooting and hollering like a hometown pro with the rest of his family.

“Now?” Nicky asked again.

Gray watched the scoreboard change to reflect it was now bottom of the seventh—time for the seventh-inning stretch. He nodded at the boy who’d crept into his heart. The boy who, with any luck, would soon become his son. “Now.”